Breeders’ Stakes on Gray’s hit list

Promising three-year-old London produced a compelling argument at Hawera for a crack at higher honours and won over co-trainer and part-owner Stephen Gray with her performance.

Our homebred daughter of Capitalist was too good over 1200 metres for her older rivals to set up a northern date against her own age group.

“I want to take her up to Te Rapa to have a go at black type, I think she’s ready for that,” said Gray, who trains in partnership with father Kevin.

The race on the emerging filly’s dance card is the G3 Cambridge Breeders Stakes over 1200 metres on April 25.

Fourth on debut, London broke her maiden at Wanganui last month before continuing her progression at Hawera under a dream ride from Bruno Queiroz.

She was settled back of midfield before improving across the top, angled into the clear 300 metres from home and then surged clear for a comfortable victory.

“She’s a really good filly and well-bred, I was very impressed with her,” Gray said.

London was bought out of our draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale by Gray, Toking and Wattle Bloodstock for $200,000.

She is a daughter of the G3 Alexandra Stakes-winning mare Thames Court, whose three foals to race have all been successful and includes our four-time winner Frostfair.

By Commands from the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes winner Pantenny, Thames Court is in foal to Chaldean.

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